Clara and Mr. Tiffany

As someone who has always been fascinated by beautiful stained glass, I was pleased to see that one of my favorite authors, Susan Vreeland, had written a novel sure to mesmerize with the back story of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s breathtaking nature-inspired lamps and other works of art.

The inspiration for Clara and Mr. Tiffany came from a collection of personal letters discovered in 2005 that revealed a young woman named Clara Driscoll was responsible for the design and production of these lamps—which became synonymous with the Tiffany name—as well as other exquisite works of glass that brought Tiffany much fame and fortune during the early 20^th century.

Vreeland expertly brings to life the story of Clara Driscoll, a talented artist who moves to New York City to find work in the design studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany during the birth of modern America. Forced to leave her job when she married (Mr. Tiffany had a strict policy against hiring married women), Clara returns to Tiffany’s as a young widow and takes charge of the newly formed women’s department, as it was widely believed that women had a finer eye for color selection and the attention to detail that Tiffany’s stained glass projects required. A heroine of sorts, Clara is fiercely loyal to her “Tiffany Girls” during a time when the fight for women’s equality is picking up steam. Throw in an intriguing cast of eclectic, artistic characters who reside at Clara’s board house and I think you’ll enjoy Clara’s journey to find a balance between love, her career, and her relationship with Mr. Tiffany.

Looking back on this novel, I think it may be a bit tedious for some readers, given all of the details about the glass manufacturing process (which I loved). But if you enjoy a well-researched, well-written novel, I think Clara and Mr. Tiffany would make an excellent choice as we head into the cooler, leaf-changing days of fall!



One Day





After reading great reviews about David Nicholls’ international bestseller One Day, I decided to give it a whirl while on vacation. Alas, I was more than a bit disappointed. The story meandered along, leaving me thinking, “Where is this going?” with each turn of the page. Sure, I liked the clever premise—each chapter offering a glimpse into the lives of Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley on the same July day of each passing year. But it was utterly predictable from the start. I think I was also distracted by the fact that Anne Hathaway (annoying) and Jim Sturgess (what?) are playing the leads in the movie. Did those responsible for casting even READ this book? If you’ve read it, I’d love to know what you think about the casting choices!

The story goes like this: Emma and Dexter spend a romantic night together in 1988 on the eve of their graduation from college. A close friendship develops, but it’s easy to see that both have deeper feelings for the other. As we keep up with the pair over the next 20 years, we witness the ever sarcastic Emma working at jobs that are completely beneath her and dating hapless men (poor Ian)—all while struggling to become an author. Then there’s Dexter. He’s the hot-mess host of some ridiculous British tabloid-style talk show who fills his days and nights with drugs, booze and beautiful women.

After trudging along for pages and pages (will Dexter and Emma just get together already?!?), tragedy strikes. I admit, I didn’t see this little twist coming. As I finished the final few chapters, I felt the book had somewhat redeemed itself. However, best to borrow this from a friend rather than pay for your own copy if you still insist on reading it!

Vaclav & Lena

I just finished Vaclav & Lena while vacationing in Michigan and it is one of those books I hated to put down. This debut novel by the talented Haley Tanner tells the story of a Russian family living in Brooklyn: 10-year-old Vaclav, his overprotective mother, his father (who drinks his weight in vodka on a daily basis), and Lena, a neighbor who has stolen Vaclav’s heart.

Vaclav and Lena are classmates who spend each afternoon at Vaclav’s home completing their homework assignments, eating dinner, and most importantly, practicing their magic act. Yes, Vaclav’s dream is to be a famous magician (how he admires David Copperfield and Houdini!) and he envisions Lena as the lovely assistant, always by his side.

But Lena’s home life is deplorable. An orphan, she lives with her aunt, an exotic dancer who has no time to care for a child (and doesn’t really want one around). With a profession like this, the reader can only imagine all of the unsavory elements Lena is exposed to. Vaclav’s mother, Rasia, realizes the tragedy of Lena’s situation and does what she can to make sure the girl is provided for and protected. But one afternoon, Rasia makes a shocking discovery, and because of her good intentions, Lena disappears from Vaclav’s life.

With each passing year, Vaclav (who’s still practicing magic) continues to hold out hope that he will be reunited with Lena. Will that reunion ever happen? Pick up a copy of this sweet and heartbreaking novel to find out for yourself. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.